The Tennessean from Nashville, Tennessee • Page 22

0 TUesday, November 28. 2000 THE TENNESSEAN www.tennessean.com SPORTS: PREP FOOTBALL BASEBALL Seven area prep players claim Mr. Football honors a. 4cr UL Lb 1 'J I. By ANDREW HUVBUS AND HAROLD HUGQNS Sports tt'iikr Middle Tennessee teams claimed seven of the American General Mr.

Football awards yesterday, but none more unlikely than Hillsboro's Alvin Kite. Fite winning the Class 4A Lineman trophy yesterday was no surprise last year as a junior he established himself as one of the top two-way players in the state. This season he kid his second straight 1,000 yard rushing season with 1251 and 15 touchdowns and 176 tackles on defease as a fullbacklinebacker. But three years ago when he was a "chubby little fullback," as his teammates said playing on an 0-7 Hillsboro freshmen team, a Mr. Football Award would have been a shock.

"I wasn't worth nothing my freshman year," said Fite, the Class 4A Lineman winner. "I never thought about winning Mr. Football. I just thought about just trying to get by." Fife's progress from ugly duckling to swan helped lead Hillsboro to a B-l season, though that only loss came this past Friday in the 4A semifinals to Memphis East, one step short of Saturday's BlueCross Bowl "It helps make up for it a little bit, but Td trade it for a state champi- state championships. It's a great honor just to be nominated twice let alone to win." Martin said he was more excited when teammate Moses Osemwegie won die Division II-AA Lineman Award for his play at linebacker.

"It's kind of a surprise," Osemwegie said "No, I don't think that Ingle overshadows us. We're all used to him getting a lot of attentioa He deserves it. It's just nice to get acknowledged like this." Steven Ross of Christ Presbyter-uin Academy won the Class LA Lineman Award his second straight year being nominated CPA's Cooper Wallace was also nominated for the 1A Lineman as the Lions will play Friday for the 1A state championship. "That was awesome, having both of us up here," Ross said "There really isn't any competition between us." Linebacker Chase Brooks, whose team plays in the 3A final Saturday, became the fourth Portland player in the past three years to be named Mr. Football when he won as a lineman.

"Luke Dunbar (last year's winner from Portland) was kidding around with me, saying it ought to be my time this year," said Brooks who leads the Panthers with 125 tackles. onship anytime," Fite said. Fite has several relatives who came through Hillsboro including his uncle Eddie Hill, who went on to play in the NFL after the then Memphis State. "I think all kids improve, some more than other but he did everything asked of him," Hillsboro Coach Ron Aydelott said "Having a back-round in football he understood hard work led to good things. Alvin had fun practicing and playing and when its fun and not work, you're going to improve." Ingle Martin also completed a very fun high schmd career with a third straight state championship at Montgomery Bell Academy and a second straight Division II-AA Mr." Football Back award to go with it.

Martin rushed for over 1,000 yards, and threw for over 1,000 as well. Though Martin's passing percentage dropped from his junior year, he engineered fourth-quarter comebacks this season with touchdown passes, touchdown runs and field goals as MBA went 12-0. "Statistically it wasn't a great year, but the people around me were great and that's what makes football," Martin said "These individual awards are great, it's icing on the cake after winning three straight Midstate winners of the Tennessee High School Mr. Football awards are, from left Brandon Wells, Div. 1 A back, Moore County High School; Ray Hightower, Div.

3A back, Marshall County High School; Chase Brooks, Div. 3A lineman, Portland High School; Moses Osemwegie, Div. II-AA lineman, Montgomery Bell Academy; Alvin Fite, Div. 4A lineman, Hillsboro High School; Ingle Martin, Div. II-AA back, Montgomery Bell Academy; and Steven Ross, Div.

1 A lineman, Christ Presbyterian Academy. Brentwood's Slaughter to join I Prep st Insider Andrew Humbles AP "I was very nervous and kind of surprised" said the soft-spoken Wells. "I've had a great time there, under two different coaches (McCurry and Doug Price) and it's nice to bring this big trophy back to Moore County. We haven't won one of these in awhile. (Wells gives the sch(xl four in all the last previous being Wayne Finchum in 1994.

"I was nervous and a little scared," Hightower said "It's like a dream come true, not just for me but for my teammates." SlffllllTSfft TENNESSEANcwn fcirn dm rr www i nnaisetn cc 1st 2nd Home Mortgages No Income Qualifying Slow Credit Plans Home Improvements Home Purchases I AMOUNT I PAYMENT I TERM RATE I $30,000 $230.67 30yrs 8.5 $50,000 $384.46 30yrs 8.5 $75,000 $576.69 30yrs 8.5 $125,000 $961.14 30yrs 8.5 APR or 8.89 based on fixed rate A RHEquiPrime uu Mortgage 3343 Peremiter Hill Dr. Ste. Ill Nashville, TN 37211 www.equlprlme.com yy IP Payments "This just reflects on what we've done as a team" Marshall County coach Mac McCurry was beaming after seeing two of the players he's coached being named as Mr. Football winners yesterdiy his own Ray High-tower at Marshall, along with Brandon Wells at his former coaching post, Moore County. "I knew Brandon had the potential to be a great player when he was a freshman," said who has been Marshall coach the past two teammate Banko elects studies over hoops: Dan Banko, the Montgomery Bell Academy center who graduated last year after leading the Big Red to the Division II state championship, has decided not to pkiy at Alabama where he received a basketball scholarship.

The 6-foot-9 Banko is a Pre-Med student currently majoring in Micro Biology. His father, Loren Banko, said Dan has mapped out a course to get his undergraduate degree in three years. "We had looked forward to watching him, but we support him and I think he made a very mature decisioa" Loren said "We're proud of him for that He looked at the long-term rather than the short term." Loren said Dan got a lot of contact when he asked to be released from his scholarship by Alabama but right now had no intention of transferring. Beech beats Alabama's best Beech won the Bradley Central Holiday Inn girls basketball tournament over Thanksgiving weekend with wins over last year's top two Class 6A teams in Alabama Beech won 76-60 over Franklin County and then won 43-41 over defending 6A Alabama winner Decatur High 43-41 with Sarah Evans making a shot at the buzzer. Then in the finals Beech won seasoa "He was a (Mr.

Football) finalist in 98 as a sophomore. He's a man of few words. Ray is as good a school citizen as he is a football player, and his desire and work ethic are incredible, that's attributed to his success. I'm proud of them both." Wells wound up with 2264 yards rushing and 26 TDs this seasoa For his career, he finished as the second all-time leading rusher in the state (behind only BGA's Troy Fleming), ending with 8355 yards and an amazing 108 TDs. at Auburn Alabama's 6A runnerup Hoover High 78-76 with the Lady Bucs Courtney Boynton scoring 43 points to tie a school record Boynton, a Lipscomb signee, also had 11 rebounds and eight steals in the game and is averaging 25 points through four games.

MTSU offers Osemwege: MBA's outstanding linebacker Moses Osemwegie has been offered a football scholarship by Middle Tennessee State. Tennessee Tech had already offered Osemwegie and he has a visit scheduled with Vanderbilt which has also been in regular contact Hume finafists announced: The five nominees for the 56th annual William Hume Award are Hill-wood's Edward Cole, Stratford's Marcus Horton, Hunters Lane's Brandon Curry, Overton's Scott Tidwell and Glencliff Dale Fisher. The award honors the Nashville-Metro public school football player according to sportsmaaship, aca-. demies and football ability. Each Metro school nominates a player.

The winner will be announced Dec. 4. Siblings Ashlie Gilland, a senior at Hunters Lane, signed to play women's basketball at Trevecca A starter since her freshman year, Gilland has averaged 133 points per game.l Mik" Auburn has landed its fourth Midstate football committment as Brentwood Academy's Jake Slaughter has announced his intention to play for the Tigers. "I always wanted to play in the SEC first of all and I went to the Auburn-Georgia game and was amazed" Slaughter said And it helps my best friend is going there too." That is Eagle teammate, lineman Taylor Bourgeois, who also has committed to Auburn. "Oh, yeah, I pressured him," Bourgeois laughed Christ Presbyterian Academy's Steven Ross and Cooper Wallace have also committed to Auburn to where Slaughter a fullbacklinebacker made his decision over Thanksgiving weekend.

Moore said Alabama-Birmingham and Middle Tennessee State were among the others to offer Slaughter a scholarship and Tennessee and Ole Miss also showing interest "It kind of came down to Tennessee and Auburn, but Tennessee wanted me to wait it out and I wanted to choose now," Slaughter said "Over Thanksgiving I thought everything out and chose Auburn." LSU appears on Martin's 1st Montgomery Bell Academy's Ingle Mar-tia the state's top prospect, said he has set up his official visits for Geor- gia LSU, Ole Miss, Tennessee and Florida LSU appears to be the new school in the mix for the quarterback, who yesterday won his second straight Mr. Football award Martin also said Vanderbilt still is in the mix, but won't schedule an official visit because he is already so close. Oakland analysis of Kverdale-Red Bank: Riverdale and Red Bank, who play Saturday in the Class 5A state championship game, have one common opponent in Oakland Oakland actually is the only team to beat Riverdale, which the Patriots did in week 3. Oakland lost to Red Bank in the first round of playoffs. "Overall Riverdale has more speed," Oakland Coach Marty Euverard said "You're not going to find much more team speed than they have.

But Red Bank is fast too. And Riggs might be the fastest guy on the field" That is Gerald Riggs, the Class Norwich Navigators, the New York Yankees' Double-A team "I know everybody's been curious, and no one more so than said Browa who played the 1988 and 98 seasoas with the Sounds, regarding his staff. "I'm very pleased to have Jeff with me, and Darold seems like an experienced guy; I'm looking forward to working with him. I've heard nothing but good things about CarL He did a good job with the Yankees and was looking to advance; we had an opening and were able to get him over here." Knowles pitched 15 major league seasons with eight teams and has HI -1 iM' 5A Mr. Football Back winner with well over 1,700 yards rushing and who is just as good at defeasive end He just happens to be the son of former NFL running back Gerald Riggs.

But Riverdale has its junior Ralph King who has 2538 yards rushing with 45 total TD's. Riverdale also has an outstanding secondary with Ted Montgomery, Marvin Smith and Quitez Burke and sophomore quarterback Stephen Britton who has continued to improve. "Riverdale can hurt you in so many ways," Euverard said "That secondary is as fast as you'll find anywhere, they have a good kicking game and they have a young quarterback who has gotten better. "Riggs has the ability to change a game. And they can throw a little bit and there backup tailback is awful good too.

But so does King. The experience factor has to help Riverdale and being in there own backyard has to be an advantage." Brentwood Academy also played Red Bank to start the regular season and scrimmaged Riverdale just prior to that. "Riverdale is based on speed side to side," Brentwood Academy lineman Taylor Bourgeois said "Red Bank is more smash-mouth. Riggs is good He can change a game." spent the past 20 years as pitching coach in the St. Louis and Philadelphia organizations.

Last year he was with the Phillies' rookie-league team in Clearwater, Fla Under Livesay, Altoona posted a team batting average of 264 seventh in the 12-team Eastern League. The Curve had the top home run hitter in Double-A outfielder Adam Hyzdu (31), and hit 113 homers to place second in the league. The Sounds open their season April 4 at Memphis, with the home opener a day later against Calgary. Maurice Patton covers the Nashville Sounds for The Temessean. He can be reached at 259-801 8 or by e-mail at ror utrrr-isi-mrtr 11 vvccivciulo: Sounds set coaching staff for new season MA loho wiiias mm By MAURKE PATTON Spurts Writer A large part of the Nashville Sounds coaching staff for the 2001 season fell into place yesterday.

Darold Knowles, who pitched for the Oakland A's during their 1972-74 world championship run, will serve as the Sounds' pitching coach under new manager Marty Browa Jeff Livesay, who was Brown's hitting coach last season when both were with the Pittsburgh Pirates' Double-A affiliate at Altoona Pa, will fill a similar role here. Also, Carl Randolph joins the Sounds as trainer after spending the previous three seasons with the KB (DREED tenia? QUE UMU'dsMl. imo marge iimi inni-rrTt Mi-iiTr a uNLimiicu mum 3 gc i 'f nun hi cc ci I gv CO LEATHER CASE TJ at no charae charge CAD ,,4 run 1 With purchase of phone this ad. Authorized Agent of BELLSOUTH OSt OC3 0 NEC 2600 1 WWVf Trimode DigitalAnalog SPCS L. Mobility' OFFER EN 5-Q Cellular Direct Your Personal Communications Serv OFFER ENDS 12-31-00 Services Company Old Hlcltoiy BW Arcade (next to Posl Office) D0NELS0N PIKE COOL SPRINGS WHITE BRIDGE RD.

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